Marginal wheat farmers in Magura are selling harvests at a low price this month as government’s procurement drive will start from April 1.
According to Magura Agriculture Extension Department, a total of 8,300 hectares of land was brought under wheat cultivation in the district this year, while the total production now stands at 27,335 metric tonnes.
During a visit to Gangnalia, Bhabonhati, Isakhada and Jagla Bazar villages under the sadar upazila, wheat was found being sold at Tk700 -720 per maund in local markets, whereas, government procures them at least at Tk900-920 per maund.
Some farmers went back from the market without selling their harvests while the marginal ones sold at much cheaper rates making grave losses.
Abu Taleb, a wheat farmer of Jagdal village, said: “I cultivated wheat on two bighas of land this year. At present the price of wheat in local market is very low. But still I had to sell my harvests as I had borrowed money from a local money lender on high interests. Now I am under pressure to repay the loan. Under government procurement, we get the fair price. But that will start from April 1. So, I shall not be able to avail the opportunity.”
Another farmer Nur Jalal of Gopalgram village told the Dhaka Tribune that at present, the marginal farmers are selling wheat at a very low price. In this process the middlemen are becoming the gainers as they are storing up the wheat after buying them at dirt cheap rates from the marginal farmers.
Ultimately these middlemen will sell the wheat during government’s procurement drive and derive high prices. But, marginal farmers will have nothing to sell during the drive.
“The government’s wheat procurement drive will ultimately benefit the middlemen rather than the farmers,” he said.
A number of marginal farmers said every year the wheat procurement drive starts from April while farmers get harvest at hand at the beginning of March. The marginal farmers have been crying for years now demanding the wheat procurement drive be started earlier. But that cry seems to fall on deaf ears, they said in frustration.
On the other hand, when contacted, Magura District Food Controller Selim ul Azim said: “The wheat harvest is yet to start in full swing. Wheat growers will certainly derive benefit from the procurement drive.”